Legal Question in Criminal Law in Colorado

Re: motion of continuance

Go to the Colorado State Judicial Branch web site, and download a copy of the form JDF 76. The URL is http://www.courts.state.co.us/chs/court/forms/general/general.html, which allows you to fill it in online and print it.

Write in plain English; judges hate lawyerese anyway.

Number the reasons you want your continuance, such as:

1. I'm having my hair done that day.

2. My astrologer said I would be hit by a falling safe if I go out.

3. I just can't stand to hear that awful word, "Guilty."

4. This is the first time I have asked the court for a continuance.

5. A continuance will do no harm either to the opposing party (if a criminal case, "to the People") or to the court.

Always put #4 and #5 in your motion. Never put #1-3 in there, but substitute real, truthful reasons.

Where it says "I request the Court to:" write "grant a continuance of this matter for XX days/weeks/lifetimes."

There's a Certificate of Mailing with the form. Be sure you actually mail a copy of your motion to the opposing party or, if this is a criminal case, to the district attorney.

Good luck.